Damage-hit France have been held to a 2-2 draw by Iceland in 2026 World Cup qualifying on Monday, whereas Germany received in Northern Eire with a Nick Woltemade objective and Belgium beat Wales to face on the point of a spot at subsequent 12 months’s finals.
France, World Cup winners in 2018 and runners-up in 2022, have been with out a host of gamers in Reykjavik together with captain Kylian Mbappe and Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele, each out injured.
They fell behind to a Victor Palsson objective late within the first half, however Christopher Nkunku equalised simply after the hour mark.
Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta then gave Les Bleus the lead halfway by means of the second half, getting his first senior worldwide objective on his first begin.
Nevertheless, Iceland have been again stage virtually from the restart as Kristian Hlynsson of FC Twente ran by means of unchallenged to make it 2-2.
France may have clinched qualification for subsequent 12 months’s match in North America with a win in Reykjavik mixed with Ukraine failing to beat Azerbaijan on the identical time.
However whereas they have been dropping factors, Ukraine have been beating Azerbaijan 2-1 within the Polish metropolis of Krakow — Oleksiy Hutsuliak and Ruslan Malinovskiy scored for Ukraine both facet of a Vitaliy Mykolenko personal objective.
France are however three factors clear on the high of Group D with two video games remaining subsequent month, and a win at dwelling to second-placed Ukraine in Paris will wrap up high spot.
“We completely managed the sport. Iceland had two pictures on track and scored two targets,” France coach Didier Deschamps advised TFI.
“However we have now one other level on the board and subsequent month shall be decisive.”
Germany have now recorded three consecutive victories in Group A after starting their marketing campaign with a defeat in Slovakia final month.
Newcastle United ahead Woltemade headed in the one objective of the sport as Germany beat Northern Eire 1-0 in Belfast, and Julian Nagelsmann’s group are high of the group with 9 factors.
“It was a vital three factors for us,” Woltemade advised Germany’s RTL, including that “on this ambiance and in a little bit of an unpleasant sport, you must win and we did effectively”.
– Switzerland pressured to attend –
Slovakia sit second solely on objective distinction as they defeated Luxembourg 2-0 at dwelling, Adam Obert and Ivan Schranz scoring the targets within the second half.
The 12 group winners in European qualifying will go to the World Cup, with runners-up persevering with on to play-offs set for subsequent March — the assembly between Germany and Slovakia in Leipzig subsequent month will subsequently be decisive.
Belgium have virtually certified from Group J after Kevin De Bruyne transformed two penalties in a 4-2 win over Wales in Cardiff.
Joe Rodon had given Wales an early lead however De Bruyne’s spot-kick double got here both facet of a Thomas Meunier objective.
Nathan Broadhead pulled it again to 3-2, just for Leandro Trossard of Arsenal to seal Belgium’s victory on the dying.
Rudi Garcia’s Crimson Devils — who beat Wales 4-3 at dwelling in June — now know one win from their two video games subsequent month away to Kazakhstan and at dwelling to Liechtenstein will clinch high spot.
In the meantime, Wales should attempt to catch second-placed North Macedonia, who have been held 1-1 at dwelling by Kazakhstan on Monday with Enis Bardhi replying for the hosts after Dinmukhamed Karaman’s opener.
Switzerland may have certified from Group B with the best mixture of outcomes, however should wait till subsequent month after a 0-0 attract Slovenia.
The Swiss at the moment are solely three factors away from Kosovo, who beat Sweden 1-0 in Gothenburg because of a solitary strike by Fisnik Asllani of Hoffenheim.
Sweden’s marketing campaign has confirmed to be a catastrophe as they sit backside of the part with only one level regardless of having Viktor Gyokeres and Alexander Isak beginning collectively up entrance — they’ve didn’t even rating of their final three matches.
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